Public Agencies Consider Move To San Francisco
OAKLAND (KCBS) – A political fight is brewing over where the headquarters for three major public agencies should be, with two Bay Area cities battling over hundreds of jobs.
The plan being considered would move the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Association of Bay Area Governments, both which are currently headquartered in Oakland, into the old post office building at 390 Main Street in San Francisco.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
The agencies would share that facility with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
"We would be able to share resources and share conferences and have the staffs work more closely together," said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.
Bates sits on the both the air district and MTC boards. He said the Metropolitan Transportation Commission wants to rent out space in the building to help finance the project.
"It's big enough to accommodate everyone. It's big enough to rent out space to other tenants and be able to make a return on their investment," he said. "It also provides good parking, a good location and can be remodeled."
Oakland is not giving up hope of hosting the agencies. A site on Broadway Street in downtown Oakland is still under consideration, although it is now considered a long shot.
City officials were also considering offering up the shuttered Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center as a potential site.
The MTC board is expected to take up the proposal later this month.
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